Heroes, we don’t have nearly enough of them. THUMBS UP to Mebane Police Patrol Officer Daniel Nielsen. He was commended this week for actions helping to save the life of a driver involved in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 40/85 at the Mebane-Oaks Road exchange in May. His monitoring of emergency channels and quick action with a fire extinguisher probably meant the difference between life and death for the driver. “The fire department is the one that actually saved his life,” Nielsen downplays his role, giving credit to the fire department. But from all accounts, the title “hero” fits him well.

And speaking of heroes, THUMBS UP to being in the right place at the right time. Just ask Eli Whitney fire Capt. Tim Skinner who suffered a heart attack while surrounded by fellow firefighters working an incident in Eli Whitney. Skinner collapsed at the scene. Luckily, he was with people who knew how to help. Armed with training in CPR and the equipment at hand to shock Skinner’s heart back to life, Skinner survived an otherwise potentially deadly ordeal. Skinner said he owes his life to several people involved in his rescue — but especially to brothers Chris and William Mauney. They started administering CPR within 30 seconds of his collapse. “I feel sure if it weren’t for these guys, I wouldn’t be talking to you today,” Skinner told us.

THUMBS DOWN to the loss of Bill Ingold, who bought and sold cars in the county for 55 years. Ingold passed away this week at age 85 after several months of failing health. Ingold broke into the business with Crawford Amick at Amick Ford in Mebane and worked at Atwater Ford before starting Burlington Lincoln-Mercury in 1964 with later expansions with Burlington Honda and Bill Ingold Mazda. Ingold was involved with Burlington Honda from 1974 until his passing. He was good to the community and his customers and believed in giving everyone a fair shake.

THUMBS UP to the ingenious method of Doug Frazier to take some of the boredom out of exercise. Come Feb. 1, Frazier will realize his four-year goal of hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. But instead of being on mountainous terrain, he will have done the 4,500 miles on the walking track at Burlington’s Joe C. Davidson Park. Frazier initially considered whipping himself back into shape by hiking the Appalachian Trail after a severe fall from a laddier in 2008. But the park walk became his fallback plan and one he has pursued with diligence. His next project: 230,000 miles to the moon? What’s the old saying: If you can’t go to the mountain, bring the mountain to you? Happy trails.

THUMBS UP to local generosity. Thanks to area donors, The Salvation Army of Alamance County was able to assist hundreds of families and children this past Christmas. The Army reported its Red Kettles were filled with some $120,000, which helps all year long to provide emergency utility assistance, food and clothing. Thanks to the Army’s Angel Tree program, 829 children — representing 435 local families — had presents to unwrap on Christmas morning.

THUMBS UP to the Alamance County Gang Task Force for targeting five suspects in a nearly one-month graffiti binge that saw about a dozen properties “tagged” last November and December. Not only were the suspects cited for injury to property, but for intending to intimidate both property owners and those who may have viewed the gang scrawlings. We’re as tired as anyone else of seeing this “art” and support the task force’s efforts to eradicate these “artists” from our midst.

Finally, THUMBS DOWN to the same-old same-old of politics. The Associated Press reported Friday that new North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory is raising pay for his department chiefs, with four getting $128,000 and three getting $135,000.Under Gov. Perdue, cabinet secretaries earned $122,000 a year. He’s doing so while many in government officers across the state haven’t had raises in four or five years.